Barcelona City Council’s commemorative Sant Jordi poster for 23 April has sparked significant controversy among pro-independence groups. Critics cite the absence of the Catalan flag, known as the senyera, and the rose’s perceived resemblance to the Socialist Party’s symbol.
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The poster, an artwork by internationally recognised urban artist TVBoy, features a couple kissing against a red heart. One figure, dressed as a dragon, holds a book, while the other holds a rose. The design includes the name Barcelona with the city’s crest and the slogan, “We make the Barcelona of your life.” Pro-independence platforms and Catalanist entities have labelled the poster an “outrage to the nation” and a sign of “Spanishisation of Catalonia” by the Socialists.
Council Defends Poster Design
Socialist sources from the City Council have downplayed the controversy. They state that promotional Sant Jordi posters have not included political symbols since 2016. These sources attribute the current debate to “extremist independentism,” suggesting it seeks political gain from public activities without solid arguments. However, radical circles maintain that the rose, held with a clenched fist, resembles the former logo of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). They also argue the poster lacks any reference to Catalonia or Barcelona beyond the City Council’s logo.
Further criticism targets the choice of the Sant Jordi proclamation speaker. Pro-independence groups claim the City Council disregards the Catalan language by not selecting a Catalan writer. This year’s proclamation will be delivered by Scottish writer Ali Smith, a multi-award-winning author and Royal Society of Literature member whose works have been translated into Catalan. Barcelona has historically welcomed diverse international literary figures for the proclamation, including José Saramago, John Banville, and Irene Vallejo.
Broader “Spanishisation” Accusations
This poster controversy connects to a broader narrative of alleged “Spanishisation” of Catalan traditions. Pro-independence figures link the poster’s design to the Spanish national anthem’s interpretation during a Holy Week procession in Mataró on Good Friday. Former Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) deputy Joan Puig contrasted the “traditional Catalan procession,” characterised by austerity and silence, with an “Andalusian/military style” featuring exuberance and Spanish nationalist elements. Puig argues that this promotes a “Castilianised Holy Week” to dilute Catalan identity. He also condemned the “militarisation of processions” in Mataró and other cities, where military garrisons were allegedly forced to participate.
TV3 and Mataró TV news programmes reported on the Spanish anthem’s interpretation, drawing further criticism from pro-independence groups. Junts deputy Francesc Dalmases also denounced TV3 for including images of the Spanish Legion in its Holy Week coverage. Dalmases described the military body as a “refuge for Nazis” with a “documented sadistic and bloody history.” These incidents, alongside the Sant Jordi poster, fuel accusations of a “process of substitution of Catalan tradition” aimed at “uniforming differences.”
List of Grievances Against Socialists
Pro-independence forums circulate a list of alleged grievances against the Socialists over the past ten months. These include the restitution of the Spanish flag at the Parliament of Catalonia and the Generalitat headquarters, following court rulings. Other points of contention are President Salvador Illa’s attendance at Spain’s National Day events in Madrid and his promotion of Jaén olive oil. The list also cites the Catalan government’s Gold Medal award to Grupo Planeta, which moved its editorial headquarters from Catalonia during the procés, and the Sant Jordi Cross awarded to actress Loles León, whom some consider a “traitor.” The return of expropriated assets to the Sijena monastery in Huesca, after a long legal battle favouring Aragon, also features on this list. Dalmases added the Sant Jordi award to actress Karla Sofía Gascón, accusing her of “Catalanophobia” and racism. He further claimed that hosting the Goya Awards gala in Barcelona forms part of the same “Spanishisation” plan for Catalonia. This ongoing tension highlights how cultural events and symbols frequently become focal points for political and identity debates within Catalonia.
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Originally published by El Confidencial. Read original article.
